ROK
Rockwell Automation, Inc.
Industrial - Machinery
Market Cap$50.37B
5Y Perf.+107.4%
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Stock Comparison
ROK vs EMR
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
EMR
Emerson Electric Co.
Industrial - Machinery
Market Cap$79.02B
5Y Perf.+131.2%
ROK vs EMR — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ROK | EMR |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Industrial - Machinery | Industrial - Machinery |
| Market Cap | $50.37B | $79.02B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $8.80B | $18.32B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $1.09B | $2.44B |
| Gross Margin | 52.5% | 52.7% |
| Operating Margin | 19.1% | 19.8% |
| Forward P/E | 36.9x | 21.7x |
| Total Debt | $3.65B | $13.76B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $468M | $1.54B |
ROK vs EMR — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
ROK
EMR
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockwell Automation… (ROK) | 100 | 207.4 | +107.4% |
| Emerson Electric Co. (EMR) | 100 | 231.2 | +131.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ROK vs EMR
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: EMR leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Rockwell Automation, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
ROK
Rockwell Automation, Inc.
The Long-Run Compounder
ROK is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night.
- 341.0% 10Y total return vs EMR's 206.6%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.33, Low D/E 98.3%, current ratio 1.14x
- Beta 1.33, yield 1.2%, current ratio 1.14x
Best for: long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night
EMR
Emerson Electric Co.
The Income Pick
EMR carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 37 yrs, beta 1.52, yield 1.5%
- Rev growth 3.0%, EPS growth 17.8%, 3Y rev CAGR 9.3%
- 3.0% revenue growth vs ROK's 1.0%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | EMR | 3.0% revenue growth vs ROK's 1.0% |
| Value | EMR | Lower P/E (21.7x vs 36.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | EMR | 13.3% margin vs ROK's 12.4% |
| Stability / Safety | ROK | Beta 1.33 vs EMR's 1.52 |
| Dividends | EMR | 1.5% yield, 37-year raise streak, vs ROK's 1.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | ROK | +60.2% vs EMR's +30.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ROK | 9.7% ROA vs EMR's 5.8%, ROIC 15.1% vs 8.2% |
ROK vs EMR — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
ROK vs EMR — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLROKLAGGINGEMR
EMREmerson Electric Co.
3leads
ROKRockwell Automation, …
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs EMRMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
EMR4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
EMR6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
ROK8/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
ROK4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
ROK2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
EMR2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
EMR leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
EMR is the larger business by revenue, generating $18.3B annually — 2.1x ROK's $8.8B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 13.3% (EMR) to 12.4% (ROK). On growth, ROK holds the edge at +11.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ROKRockwell Automati… | EMREmerson Electric … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $8.8B | $18.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.9B | $4.7B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.1B | $2.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.3B | $3.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +52.5% | +52.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +19.1% | +19.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +12.4% | +13.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +15.2% | +17.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +11.8% | +2.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +39.6% | +28.2% |
EMR leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
EMR leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 34.9x trailing earnings, EMR trades at a 40% valuation discount to ROK's 58.5x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, EMR's 18.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ROK's 30.6x.
| Metric | ROKRockwell Automati… | EMREmerson Electric … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $50.4B | $79.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $53.6B | $91.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 58.45x | 34.92x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 36.93x | 21.71x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 7.73x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 30.64x | 18.07x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 6.04x | 4.39x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 13.66x | 3.94x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 37.09x | 29.63x |
EMR leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ROK leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ROK delivers a 29.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $30 in annual profit, vs $12 for EMR. EMR carries lower financial leverage with a 0.68x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ROK's 0.98x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ROK scores 8/9 vs EMR's 7/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ROKRockwell Automati… | EMREmerson Electric … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +29.6% | +12.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +9.7% | +5.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +15.1% | +8.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +18.5% | +10.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.98x | 0.68x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.2B | $12.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $468M | $1.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $3.6B | $13.8B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 9.06x | 6.46x |
ROK leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
ROK leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ROK five years ago would be worth $17,462 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $15,945 for EMR. Over the past 12 months, ROK leads with a +60.2% total return vs EMR's +30.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors EMR at 20.7% vs ROK's 18.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ROKRockwell Automati… | EMREmerson Electric … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +12.8% | +4.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +60.2% | +30.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +65.0% | +75.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +74.6% | +59.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +341.0% | +206.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +18.2% | +20.7% |
ROK leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ROK leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ROK is the less volatile stock with a 1.33 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than EMR's 1.52 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ROK currently trades 96.7% from its 52-week high vs EMR's 85.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ROKRockwell Automati… | EMREmerson Electric … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.33x | 1.52x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $463.49 | $165.15 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $277.66 | $108.37 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +96.7% | +85.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 74.9 | 61.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 831K | 2.8M |
ROK leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
EMR leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ROK as "Hold" and EMR as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 14.8% upside for EMR (target: $162) vs -2.6% for ROK (target: $437). For income investors, EMR offers the higher dividend yield at 1.49% vs ROK's 1.17%.
| Metric | ROKRockwell Automati… | EMREmerson Electric … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $436.56 | $161.92 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 39 | 41 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.2% | +1.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 20 | 37 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $5.23 | $2.10 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.8% | +1.6% |
EMR leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
EMR leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). ROK leads in 3 (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns).
Best OverallRockwell Automation, Inc. (ROK)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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ROK vs EMR: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ROK or EMR a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Emerson Electric Co.
(EMR) is the stronger pick with 3. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 0% for Rockwell Automation, Inc. (ROK). Emerson Electric Co. (EMR) offers the better valuation at 34. 9x trailing P/E (21. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Emerson Electric Co. (EMR) a "Buy" — based on 41 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — ROK or EMR?
On trailing P/E, Emerson Electric Co.
(EMR) is the cheapest at 34. 9x versus Rockwell Automation, Inc. at 58. 5x. On forward P/E, Emerson Electric Co. is actually cheaper at 21. 7x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ROK or EMR?
Over the past 5 years, Rockwell Automation, Inc.
(ROK) delivered a total return of +74. 6%, compared to +59. 5% for Emerson Electric Co. (EMR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ROK returned +341. 0% versus EMR's +206. 6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — ROK or EMR?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Rockwell Automation, Inc.
(ROK) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 33β versus Emerson Electric Co. 's 1. 52β — meaning EMR is approximately 15% more volatile than ROK relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Emerson Electric Co. (EMR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 68% versus 98% for Rockwell Automation, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ROK or EMR?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Emerson Electric Co.
(EMR) is pulling ahead at 3. 0% versus 1. 0% for Rockwell Automation, Inc. (ROK). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Emerson Electric Co. grew EPS 17. 8% year-over-year, compared to -7. 4% for Rockwell Automation, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, EMR leads at 9. 3% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — ROK or EMR?
Emerson Electric Co.
(EMR) is the more profitable company, earning 12. 7% net margin versus 10. 4% for Rockwell Automation, Inc. — meaning it keeps 12. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: EMR leads at 19. 6% versus 17. 1% for ROK. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — EMR leads at 52. 8%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is ROK or EMR more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Emerson Electric Co.
(EMR) trades at 21. 7x forward P/E versus 36. 9x for Rockwell Automation, Inc. — 15. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for EMR: 14. 8% to $161. 92.
08Which pays a better dividend — ROK or EMR?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Emerson Electric Co. (EMR) offers the highest yield at 1. 5%, versus 1. 2% for Rockwell Automation, Inc. (ROK).
09Is ROK or EMR better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Rockwell Automation, Inc.
(ROK) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1. 2% yield, +341. 0% 10Y return). Emerson Electric Co. (EMR) carries a higher beta of 1. 52 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ROK: +341. 0%, EMR: +206. 6%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between ROK and EMR?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(ROK: 11.8% · EMR: 2.9%)Net Margin>
%
(ROK: 12.4% · EMR: 13.3%)P/E Ratio<
x
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